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As a host or hostess, you are the first and last person guests see at a restaurant. Because of this, you must always be alert, attentive and efficient. Keeping the restaurant orderly, making sure guests are happy, and keeping track of what's going on at each table are just some of the ways you can keep your guests happy.

Steps

Part 1

Staying Organized

1

Make sure you have all of the supplies you need before your shift starts. You should have plenty of pens and highlighters, a seating chart, and paper for making notes at your host stand. If there’s anything you need, ask your manager to bring it to you. You should also check to make sure there is plenty of clean silverware available.[1]

2

Keep track of each section. Make a chart of the table layout and each server’s station. Keep track of how many tables are seated in each section, how many people are in each party, and what time each party arrived. This will help you assign new tables to the servers who have the most open tables.[2]

If your restaurant takes reservations, be sure to factor them in when you’re planning your seating chart!

3

Communicate with your servers. You need to know if a server is overwhelmed with just 2 tables or if they can handle another one even if they already have a 6-top. The best way to know what your servers can handle is to talk to them. Remember that you’re all working on the same team![3]

If possible, ask busy servers if they're ready for another table before you seat them. You can also ask servers if they're comfortable handling big groups if you have a large party come in.

4

Walk the floor to keep track of the tables. Sometimes during a hectic dinner shift, you might lose track of who’s already left. If that’s the case, ask someone to watch your host stand and walk the floor with your seating chart. Look for any tables that are marked as seated but which are actually free. You can also check to see which customers have moved on to dessert, as the server in that section will probably be ready for a new table soon.[4]

5

Help to clear and set tables when necessary. You probably won’t be expected to bus and set tables as part of your job description, but you should be willing to lend a helping hand when you’re needed. Wipe down tables, put down silverware, and straighten chairs when you’re not busy doing anything else.[5]

Part 2

Greeting Guests

1

Greet guests with a smile and welcome them to the restaurant. You’re the first chance the restaurant has to make an impression, so make sure you’re aware whenever new guests arrive. Greet guests warmly, addressing them by name if they are repeat customers. Let guests know right away if there will be a wait so they can decide whether they want to make other dinner plans.[6]

If you’re busy with another guest when someone arrives, acknowledge the new arrival with a smile or by saying something like “I’ll be right with you!”

2

Ask how many people are in the party. Don’t assume that just because 2 people walk in that they will be the only ones in their party. The rest of their group might not have joined them yet. Always ask so you’ll know what size table your guests need.[7]

3

Ask customers if they have a seating preference. Guests with a larger frame might not be comfortable squeezed into a small booth, and customers who have trouble walking might prefer a seat close to the door so they don’t have to walk as far. Make your best judgement call, but don’t be afraid to ask your customers what type of seating they’d prefer.[8]

4

Answer the phone promptly. The host of a restaurant is usually the one responsible for answering the phone. Make sure you answer the phone promptly and professionally. State the name of the restaurant, your name, and ask the caller how you can help them. Politely ask if you can put them on hold if you’re busy.[9]

5

Maintain your composure even if the restaurant gets hectic. When the dinner rush hits, it can be hard to stay calm and composed, but if you get frazzled, the whole restaurant could become disorganized. If you feel stressed, take deep breaths and remember that even the busiest dinner service will be over in a couple of hours.[10]

Part 3

Seating Your Customers

1

Show your guests to their table. Make sure you do not walk faster than your customers. Walk slightly ahead of them, carrying menus and silverware to the table where you want them to sit. Ask if the table is okay before the customers sit down.

2

Apologize to your customers if they have had to wait long. Most customers expect to wait at least 10 minutes to be seated at a restaurant, especially if they didn’t have a reservation. If your guests have waited much longer than that, offer a sincere apology as you show them to their table. Ask management if it’s okay to comp them a free drink or appetizer (but don’t offer it to the guests until you get permission).[11]

3

Make sure your guests are seated comfortably. If the restaurant is slow, try to seat guests at a table that’s not directly next to another full table. Of course, if the restaurant is very busy, guests will have to sit near other diners, but try to make sure all of your guests have enough space to be comfortable.[12]

4

Rotate stations. By seating guests in rotating sections, you’ll help ensure that all of your servers are able to make money for the night. Rotating stations will also help keep servers from becoming overwhelmed by getting several tables at the same time.[13]

5

Place a menu and silverware for each guest at their place setting. You never want to throw all of the menus down on a table, as this seems rude and dismissive. Instead, carefully lay a menu and silverware at each place setting, and make sure your guests are seated before you leave the table.

Be prepared to get water or other small items for guests. If they request more than that, politely let them know that their server will be right with them.

6

Speak to guests as they leave. You’re the last person guests will have contact with, so offer a friendly farewell to guests as they walk out the door. This will help them leave feeling like they had a pleasant dining experience.[14]

Focus, ask for help filling water, and explain to impatient customers that you're doing everything you can to accommodate them. Offer conversation, a free drink at the bar while they wait and be honest. Importantly, don't blame other staff as this reflects badly on you and the restaurant as a whole, often leading to the customer presuming that if the place is poorly run, then the food might not be worth waiting for.

Is it rude to ask my customer to move to another table after I have seated them?

Community Answer

It isn't rude if you explain why this needs to happen and the reason is legitimate and reasonable. People who have been given a reason as to why something potentially uncomfortable is happening will be more understanding and accepting. For example, you could say: "I have disabled a customer I need to accommodate and this is the table with the easiest access. Would it be all right with everyone if I moved your party by the window? We'll ensure that everything is moved quickly and without interruption to your meal." Think first about how would you like to be asked/ informed of such a change, then be guided by that.

"Is there a special occasion for your dinner with us this evening?"; "Are you traveling from another area or visiting from town?"; "How long are you in the area?"; "What do you like the most about the area you're from?"

Serve guests in such a way so as to not to obstruct the guest, and in a polite way. Ask if they are finished first, even if it is obvious to you. Usually remove from the right but if this appears to be obstructed, use common sense and remove from the best position available. If removing entails reaching over another guest's food, then wait. There is nothing more appalling to a diner than to have the waiter reach over food still being eaten just because the waiter feels the need to start clearing.

To be a great host or hostess in a restaurant, start your shift by making sure you have everything you need in the host stand, like pens, highlighters, paper, and the seating chart. When guests start to arrive, greet them with a smile, welcome them to the restaurant, and ask how many people they have in their party. On busy nights, help to clear and set the tables so you can get waiting guests seated as promptly as possible. Then, show your guests to their table and make sure they're seated comfortably before you return to the host stand. Guests will also appreciate being acknowledged on their way out, so thank them or wish them a good night as they walk past your station. For tips on keeping track of your sections and communicating with the servers, read on!

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This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Together, they cited information from 14 references. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article meets our high standards.

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Co-Authored By:

wikiHow Staff Editor

Co-authors: 57

Updated: May 16, 2019

Views: 667,762

90% of readers found this article helpful.

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90% of people told us that this article helped them.

AF

Alec F.

Jul 28, 2017

"Very helpful, thank you! At my restaurant we don't have bussers, the host busses, seats, and mans the host stand. It's difficult to balance the three on a busy night, but this article helped me understand what efficient bussing is, can't wait to try it!"..." more

LS

Lorena Sanjines

Mar 28, 2016

"Very, very helpful because I'm starting my first job as a hostess really soon. :) This made me think about it a lot and helped me out. Thank you!"..." more

A

Anonymous

Jun 6, 2016

"I was nervous about my first day as a host and after reading this, I became a little less nervous and a lot more confident, thanks!"..." more

MD

Mariah DeLong

May 27, 2017

"It's my first day as a hostess and I wasn't given any training at all, so this is helping me not have a complete meltdown."..." more

Rated this article:

CR

Camille Renee

Apr 11, 2016

"These are all helpful tips that reminded me of what I'm doing right and what I can do to enhance my performance."

AC

Alvin Castillo

Jun 30, 2017

"This article helps the person not only to become an effective staff member, but also as a caring individual."

SM

Shan Mohamed

Jun 17, 2016

"I got all the information that I checked for the moment. Welcoming seating, taking orders, etc. Thank you."

eveluna katrina

Jul 12, 2017

"I highly appreciate the article. It has really educated me. Now I'm ready to become the best hostess."

HD

Heather D.

Mar 30, 2016

"I am a new hostess who started yesterday and this is my first job ever. This helped so much. Thanks!"